Rapping Cousins -- Jordan, Mandy, Lauren & Kenzi

Found this old video of Mandy, Jordan, Lauren and Kenzi summer of 2008. I only wish I hadn't cut off Jordan's comments at the end. (BTW Jordan, Cam LOVES this video and watched it about 10 times today.)

Here is the youtube link if this doesn't play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVE7sz2zbm0

Congrats Scott Brown! ... and thank you Mom and Dad

I'm loving following political news tonight! And in honor of both my mother and father, I just need to document my "role" in the election results (so that my children and grandchildren will know how strongly I feel about political involvement and be aware of what is happening around us!)

Mom... only heard her swear a couple of times my whole life -- one instance was while she was mowing the lawn, talking about the Iran Contra Affair and politics and told me about "those damn democrats." She talked to us a lot about our government leaders and even though she didn't vote for him, in the 70's she drug all of us down to the Salt Palace to see President Jimmy Carter when he came to Utah.

Dad... well if you know my dad you don't need me to tell the countless tales of his voicing his political views, protesting against "injustice" and driving around NSL in the back of a truck with a "bull horn" voicing his opinion. (And I can't forget the time Scott made me go door to door with him in Idaho once campaigning against gambling!)

I've always been fairly politically active and during the Clinton years, due to my constant letter writing campaign, Dave was pretty sure I was on the Secret Service watch. I don't know a ton about Scott Brown but as I've heard about him and watched the news this past week I decided I wanted to make my opinion heard. I signed up to make "get out to vote" calls for the election today. Due to some technical issues I only was able to make 2 calls, but oh well... two is better than none!

So... dad you should be proud and mom, I hope you know I really was watching and listening to you. Cameron keeps asking me what I think about the "dummacratics and dammacratics" (and no I didn't tell him those names) and tells me he is glad he is an American so I guess it is rubbing off on your grandkids as well!

Run Lauren Run!!!

Today Lauren did the Presidential Fitness tests at school ... and now holds the school record for the Shuttle Run -- 9.4 seconds. She beat the two fastest boys in school (rumor has it they weren't very happy about that)! The PE teacher came into Kenzi's clas to talk about the fitness tests and told them about a 6th grade girl Lauren who was so fast and holds the school record. Kenzi was so excited and let them proudly know "that is my sister!"

Ok... so I wish I could say she gets it from me, but Cameron, who runs like Forest Gump, can even outrun me.

(Watch out Dave... Dave and Lauren are having a 2010 contest to see who can do the most chin ups/pull ups by the end of the year and so far Lauren is winning. If I had money on this one I think I'd put the odds on Lauren.)

Happy New Year and Cabin Fun

I love, love, love the chance to go to the cabin after Christmas. The frenzy of December is softened by eating, eating, eating, watching movies, sledding up and down the mountain, playing hours of Phase 10, Monopoly and Guess the Name Game. Sitting around talking in our PJs, going to bed late, getting up late, no phone, no guilt for not putting away the Christmas "stuff." This is my time to sit down and read a book in one day and then every night stay up late and read a Reader's Digest Condensed Book (I've read tons of mini novels I would never have read). The snow, the quiet and the beauty make it the perfect way to wind down and enjoy the end of the Holidays. We had a chance to spend the weekend at the cabin with just our family and Kaylee Lyman and Lauren Spencer and then we enjoyed the New Year with the Walls and Grandpa!

This year I loved watching Cameron learn to skate -- literally 1/2 hour to go around the first time and he refused any help. I also was so proud of him for being brave enough to be pulled up and down the mountain on the snowmobile sleds. At the beginning of the week he was in tears saying "they are all going to die" as he watched the kids go down on the sleds, and by Saturday morning he was begging Dave to take us up one more time, go faster, and yell awesome up and down the hill! Grandpa also bought a TON of poppers and streamers and the kids had a great time banging pans and making a mess. The next day the deck and front lawn looked like the remains of a frat party... but the clean up was fast and worth the fun.

The New Year had a sad note as we found out Rob (my brother) has prostate cancer. Definitely puts perspective on what is important. Terri and I were talking after midnight and I commented that I was "so thrilled to start the new year with a broken water heater." She laughed and said at least I wasn't starting the new year with a husband with cancer. We decided "husband with cancer" definitely trumps "broken water heater." News like this really helps you focus on what is important and what should matter. Rob and Terri (and their kids) have a really good attitude about the situation and they are great examples to me!

Christmas Day 2009

Top Things I Love This Christmas... in no particular order!

* Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for Lauren and Cameron! This year Lauren made a list of things to do in her bedroom while she couldn't sleep. About 11:00 pm Kenzi fell asleep, and at midnight Cameron and Lauren were still downstairs coloring, reading, talking, etc. Lauren just can't sleep on Christmas Eve! It drive me nutty, but fun to see her excitement.

* Lauren didn't wake up at 4:30 am this year. She managed to wait until 6:00 am to start calling us (I tried the Mayfield phone idea). Finally at 6:15 am Dave convinced me that they are only kids once and I should just let them get up.

* Kenzi screaming and running to hug me as she opened each gift. She is so sweet and so appreciative of everything.

* Cameron loving the "fingerless" gloves more than any present he got. (Which by the way were $1 gloves that I cut the tips off at midnight when I realized he really DID ask Santa for fingerless gloves). And then, Cam sledding with the neighbors on Christmas Day and only wearing the fingerless gloves, despite the frosted fingertips!

* Lauren giving everyone at least 5 gifts. Lauren is very generous and loves to buy and make people gifts. She made cool things at school, she bought fun gifts for everyone with her babysitting/cleaning money. When she was about 3 she started wrapping up anything and everything and putting it under the tree. This year she continued this tradition with gifts for all!!!

* Laying on the new couch as a family. It really was fun to snuggle all together by the fireplace and just be together.

* Dinner and games with the Russells. We usually get together on Christmas Day with them and this year was full of funny stories, great food and games!

* Just being together as a family on Christmas Day. I loved when I was growing up just laying around in jammies on Christmas, eating a big brunch together, playing with the games we got and just soaking up the Christmas music and spirit together. I had that same wonderful feeling this year.

Christmas Eve 2009

The food, the fun, the blessing of being with family, the slightly irreverant nativity scene (ok so Lorie's comment to Kerri made it more than slightly irreverant), the added Samuel the Lamanite sock throwing, the cemetary, the pajama dance, the caroling, the kids writing letters to Santa and leaving cookies, the anticipation of anxious little ones and mostly the feeling of love for my Savior hearing sweet words of Christmas songs... I love Christmas Eve!! This year we will all remember meeting Tara's new fiance Gavin, Lauren getting taped to the computer chair, the cool Grandma and Grandpa Wall photo boxes from dad and Rob, and the funny Ute shirts from the Walls.